This is Totally Going in My Blog

One AWESOME little boy loves How I Met Your Mother.

And this mother loves that LEGEN wait for it... DARY little boy (young man).

Here is the proof.


I love you, sir.

(shirts c/o http://himymshirts.multiply.com/)

Before and After

GI was scheduled to leave for Australia on 25 July 2009, so I convinced him to have a haircut before he left. He was quite happy with his original haircut so it didn't come as a surprise when he complained, "I liked the before look better."

What do you think?

BEFORE

and AFTER ...

I think he looks fine with both haircuts.

He'll always be one of my handsome boys.

Face Value at Work

Mother and I decided to have lunch at Metroclub. I figured we could hit three birds with one stone. We would pay our bill due on the 25th, have our lunch there, and finish our consumables for the quarter ending 31 July.

We entered the restaurant and a grey-haired man seated on one of the tables immediately smiled towards our direction.

"That's Francis from G__," Mother whispered, enlightening me on the stranger who had just given us a warm smile. He is one of Father's colleagues.

"OK," I said. "I'm sure he wouldn't have recognized me if I were alone."

While waiting for our orders to arrive, we decided to head for the powder room to freshen up. As we stood up to leave, another man approached us. I find out that he is the current President of Metroclub.

He greets Mother and relays how Father was the one who first brought him to Metroclub years ago for a meeting. He chats with Mother for a while and they exchange questions and stories.

When we return from the powder room, the waiter comes and offers us a container of cashew, compliments of the President.

Here is a picture of those complimentary cashew nuts. I was quite impressed with the nuts because I had never seen whole cashew nuts before. True enough, Father's friend comes by and says that the nuts are special, precisely because they are roasted whole making them more flavorful.

I tell Mother that if I had come in without her, these people wouldn't have known me from Adam, and I wouldn't have gotten to taste and see whole cashew nuts.

Wow! See? Having lunch with your Mother certainly has its perks.

We Need More Monkeys!

"We need more monkeys!"

"There are no more monkeys!"

Those lines are from Toy Story. Do you remember who said these lines?

Toy Story (1995) was the first movie GI watched in the movie house. Toy Story 2 (1999) was RD's. When we let MyGirl watch her first movie, it was Monsters Inc. (2001). She fell asleep.

I love the Pixar movies ... Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., Wall-E , and most especially The Incredibles and Finding Nemo. Cars is one of my nephews all-time favorite movies.

We are looking forward to watching UP. It is scheduled to show in Manila on 19 August.

Big Birthday Bash

Date : 17 July 2009, Friday

Time : 6:00 PM
Venue : Philam Clubhouse

In honor of the 75th birthday of MacGyver's mom, family and friends gathered to greet Mommy a big Happy Birthday.

It was an event planned well in advance. The food was catered by Cafe Sweet Inspirations, music was provided live by RSVP String Ensemble, some siblings and in-laws worked on the details of the program (the numbers to be presented, the script to be read, being the emcee, etc.), MacGyver had gotten extra lights to illuminate the stage, and one of MacGyver's sisters had pored through old photographs and albums for many months to come up with the invitation, the printed programs, the pictures on the wall and the slide show presented that evening.

For the program numbers, there was a guitar solo by one of the nephews, a guitar duet by GI and his first cousin (they played Espana), a dance number from the junior grandchildren, aged 6 to 11, which included RD and MyGirl (they were "all in this together"), a song number from the children (MacGyver, his siblings, and in-laws, including myself, were doing the Ugoy-Ugoy Blues,) several song numbers by siblings and children, and more.

It was really quite impressive and very entertaining. But more importantly, it was an opportunity for us to all be together. With us moving to Australia soon, and some of MacGyver's siblings living abroad, it was quite a feat to get all the children and the grandchildren in one place at the same time.

Here are the grandchildren. We don't really know when they will get a chance to be with each other again after this.

Puzzle Gene

When I was young(er) I loved solving puzzles. As previously mentioned, I spent one whole summer figuring out how to solve the Rubik's cube. Apparently, RD has inherited my puzzle gene and is just as intrigued and interested in solving puzzles.

Eldest Sis (or was it Z) gave us a toy which I call the Rubik's sphere. When we got the toy, I hesitated to mix it up because I didn't have the time nor the patience to solve it. (And I knew it would drive me nuts if I mixed it up and was unable to fix it up.) So we left the puzzle untouched for the longest time.

One day, one of the children had the bright idea of mixing up the sphere. Around and around the colored pieces went, until the blues were mixed up with the reds and yellows; the greens were all over the place along with the orange pieces.

I just let it be. I knew that if I made an attempt to solve the thing, I would get hooked and might not be able to focus.

So the toy was left all a-jumble.

The other week, RD had been complaining of boredom so I dropped the sphere on his lap and said, "Here, solve this."

Truth be told, I was just trying to keep him busy.

Imagine my surprise when out of the blue he shouted, "I solved it!"

I was impressed! It was true. All the colors had found their way to their proper places.

RD had really outdone himself.

Just Visiting

When someone is on this earth for almost a hundred years, I suppose it is inevitable for the ones you love to go ahead of you -- your parents who loved you dearly, your younger sisters who would accompany you, laugh with you, chat with you, cook and sew with you, speak with you in Spanish, hug you, possibly scold you, your brothers who played around the house with you, your husband who was a soldier in the war, your son-in-law, your grandson, your neighbor, your classmate, your friend.

I brought GI to visit my great-grandaunt today. I suppose there are moments that she remembers all these loved ones who have gone ahead before her. She doesn't recognize us anymore although she smiles when we say hello. Perhaps nature has a way of making one forget so that one is not too impatient or too sad.

I remind myself that we are all just visiting here. Sooner or later, it will be OUR time to go. For Lola, perhaps it will be sooner rather than later. But until that time comes, I will continue to visit her, give her a smile and hold her hand even if she has no idea who I am.

Heads Up

RD and MyGirl love to swim in the pool at Cebu Avenue. They have discovered that they enjoy doing acrobatics they would not otherwise be able to do -- flips, somersaults, handstands.

At first it was just the two of them.

When their cousins arrived, they had an additional convert.




Somewhere along the line, like little Gremlins, they multiplied.

Gotcha!

Last Christmas, Z gave the family coordinated green T-shirts of different sizes. There was one for me and one each for the three kids. She knows how much I love seeing the children in coordinated T-shirts. It somehow gives me the feeling of togetherness and oneness.

Anyway, I told her that I didn't think I could get them to wear their shirts all at the same time because I had promised GI that once he was taller than me, I would not force him to wear matching shirts anymore. But I gladly accepted the gift and distributed the shirts accordingly.

Last Sunday (28 June 2009) RD wore his green t-shirt to church. I didn't think anything of it since GI was in a purple shirt while MyGirl was in a white shirt. However, towards the middle of the day, GI decided to change his shirt and donned HIS green shirt. So GI and RD were in matching shirts.

When I saw the two of them, I quickly ran off to find MyGirl and a camera, of course.

"MyGirl, quick, look for your green t-shirt. I HAVE to take a picture of the three of you. This may never happen again."

Four Plus Five

We are happy to have siblings come home this June even for a short time.

Eldest Sis had planned this trip to Manila some time back. She and her whole family have a full itinerary which includes Tagaytay, Subic, Baguio and of course, Boracay! They arrived last 26 June and will be here for over 2 weeks. They fly back to Virginia through Tokyo on 14 July.

Sister Deer arrived from HongKong on Saturday, 27 June. She was scheduled to leave on 01 July but with the grace of God, she was able to work it so that her stay here will be extended for 2 more days.

J flew in from Malaysia last Saturday as well on an AirAsia flight that landed at Clark. He leaves on the 12th granting he is able to renew his passport in time.

So three of them plus me, makes four.

Father and Mother have an extra grandson and granddaughter in the house while Eldest Sis is home.

Three plus two make five.


We are happy to have all of you here. These reunions and get togethers will not be as easy to come by in the future.

Hey, Where's Perry?

Well, thanks to Eldest Sis, Jersey Girl, Z, Federal Express and God Almighty, 20" Perry is now in RD's arms.

It started out as an "URGENT MESSAGE" from RD to his Auntie Z.

From: RD

To: Auntie Z
Sent: Tuesday, 9 June, 2009 8:30:45 AM
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE

Hi Auntie Z,

OK, first of all, it's not that urgent, I just used it to get your attention.

Secondly, http://www.amazon.com/Disney-Phineas-Perry-Talking-Plush/dp/B001KYUDK2,yes, that is a link but to where? to the page of the amazing Perry the Platypus toy on Amazon, yea, I would like to request that you look for it and possibly buy one, if possible. Mom has approved that we may ask you for this, but you may ask her too if you want. http://www.disneystore.com/medium-20-talking-perry-plush-toy/p/1240043/13434/ , that's the link to the Disney store page of Perry, although that's the 20" one, the Amazon one is 14" inch (which mom has already approved of), also, please just ask mom if the 20" is allowed. I understand that this might be hard to find, but please try.

Also, is your arrival date still early October?

RD

With a follow up message the day after.

From: RD

Subject: Re: URGENT MESSAGE, VERY IMPORTANT
To: "Auntie Z"
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 1:04 PM

Hi Auntie Z,
A slight mistake, apparently, there is no such thing as a 14" perry doll, according to what I think, the one in Amazon is a mistake and it is actually only 20" not 14 inches, like before, please reply

RD

Z was kind enough to do some checking for RD.

From: Z

To: RD

Sent: Thursday, 11 June, 2009 11:02:27 AM
Subject: Re: URGENT MESSAGE, VERY IMPORTANT

11 June 2009

Dear RD,

Checked out the link on Amazon, but it says there's no stock, and it doesn't seem to be available on ebay, either.

There seems to be a Disney store in a mall not too far away, I'll check tomorrow and see if they have a sale. If not, we'll order it straight from Disney. It has a semi-annual sale going on right now, but unfortunately, Perry isn't part of it.

Yes, my arrival is still mid-October, even if I haven't changed the ticket yet. I'll be coming from Tita Eldest Sister's place, but that won't affect anything on your side.

love,
Auntie Z

RD replied on 12 June to relay my instructions.

Mom says that if you get one before Tita Eldest Sis leaves for the Philippines, then go ahead and buy it so you can give it to her and she can bring it here. If you cannot find one before that time, please don't buy one anymore.

Love,

RD

Over that weekend, we were told that Perry was not in stock. But did this stop RD from checking the site? NOOOOO!!!!! (Notice the change in SUBJECT in the next set of messages.)

From: RD
To: Auntie Z
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 7:41:26 PM
Subject: PERRY IS IN STOCK!!!!!

Hi Auntie Z,

Go here http://www.disneystore.com/medium-20-talking-perry-plush-toy/p/1240043/13434/ , they say Perry's in stock! could you perhaps check out if it is correct and if it is could you try to get it? But just remember, if you won't see Tita Eldest Sis after you buy it, don't buy it

Love,

RD

Upon my instructions, RD cc'd Eldest Sis and Jersey Girl in these messages since Z was with Jersey Girl but it would be Eldest Sis bringing Perry home to the Philippines, if ever. And it was a good thing he did, too, because Jersey Girl put in her two cents worth after a while.

From: Jersey Girl
To: RD, Auntie Z
Cc: Eldest Sis

Sent: Tuesday, 16 June, 2009 11:33:32 PM
Subject: Re: PERRY IS IN STOCK!!!!!

RD and Auntie ZZ,

Just to add my few cents worth... It may be a better idea for any toy to be shipped directly to Eldest Sis if there is any shot of getting to you.

Just a suggestion...

Love,

Auntie Jersey Girl

Then came the good news.

From: Z

To: Jersey Girl, RD
Cc: Eldest Sis, Angels4Kids
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 2:32:15 PM
Subject: Re: PERRY IS IN STOCK!!!!!


18 June 2009
Dear RD,

Give Tita Eldest Sis LOTS of hugs and kisses!!!

She has ordered it, under standard shipping, it should arrive (barely) in time (asking for 2-3 day shipping made it cost literally twice as much). There *is* a chance it may not reach her before she leaves, though, in which case it'll have to wait for some other method to reach you.

love,
Auntie Z

This was exactly one week before Eldest Sis was due to arrive in Manila.

When Eldest Sis and family arrived on the 26th of June, Eldest Sis had lots more to say about the Perry saga. Apparently, whenever they would check the Disney site they would find Perry OUT-OF-STOCK in the evening even if RD had checked earlier that Perry was IN STOCK in the morning. After a couple of days of In-Stock / Out-of-Stock experience, Eldest Sis had to find time in the middle of the day (U.S. time) to squeeze in the order.

Then after the order was made, they had to track the delivery very closely since they had opted for regular delivery due to cost of having the toy delivered RUSH. Promised delivery was 5 to 7 days but Eldest Sis says that in her experience, packages would arrive within 3 to 5 days under normal circumstances. Of course, since they were scheduled to depart within a week after the purchase, getting Perry on the 7th day would mean that he would get left behind, and heaven knows when RD would get a chance to see Perry.

Fortunately, Perry arrived on Tuesday, the 23rd. That gave Eldest Sis a lot of time to pack Perry safely into the luggage.

When Eldest Sis and family arrived past 11 pm on the 26th, RD was already asleep. We were unable to get him to wake up in spite the note RD left on the table which said, "Please wake me up when Tita Eldest Sis arrives. We will sleep at 8:30 pm."

So now, when asked, "Where's Perry?," we are happy to report that Perry is FINALLY with RD.

"Oh, there he is!"

---